Measles is
caused by the measles virus. Symptoms include a fever, runny nose, cough,
and sore and reddened eyes followed by a red-brown blotchy rash. The rash
usually starts on the face and spreads down the body, and lasts 3 or more
days. Most children with measles become quite ill, but recover with no
ill effects. Occasionally, however, measles can lead to pneumonia or inflammation
of the brain and permanent disability or death. Adults and very young
children tend to have more severe illness.

Measles is
vaccine preventable. Measles vaccine is administered as part of the MMR
(measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine series to children beginning at 12 to
15 months and again at 4 to 6 years of age or 11 to 12 years of age.

Measles is
highly contagious and is spread easily from person to person through the
air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and a susceptible person
inhales the organism. These particles may remain suspended in the air,
and persons have become infected simply be being in a room after an infected
person has left. Thus, all children and any adult who did not have the
disease as a child should be vaccinated. Adults born prior to 1957 are
considered immune. Child care providers born after 1956 should receive
2 doses of MMR vaccine, with at least one dose given after 1967 at age
12 months or older.

If a case
of measles occurs in your facility: Immediately notify the local health
department. They will decide if a special immunization program or other
treatment is needed for those in close contact with the infected person.
Exclude the infected person from the facility until 5 days after the rash
appears. Notify parents. Any unimmunized children and adults should be
immunized or excluded from the center until 2 weeks after the rash appears
in the last case of measles in the facility. Closely observe all children
to determine whether any additional cases may be developing.

Note:
This
information is not intended to take the place of your state's or locality's
child care regulations and laws. In every case, the laws and regulations
of the city, county, and state in which the child care facility is located
must be carefully followed even if they differ from these recommendations.